The United States’ foundational documents were written with principles that are debated today with a passion that is still just as fervent as it was in the 18th Century. The Declaration of Independence included the concept of “inalienable rights” that were given to all men equally upon the point of their “creation”. The first of those rights mentioned was life; one of the hottest topics fixed into our political landscape today is also life – relative to abortion and war.The 1st Amendment to the US Constitution frames the idea of “the separation of church and state” by protecting establishment and the free exercise of religion. It’s apparent that the intent of the “separation” was for the protection of the Church while not explicitly defining a full severance of religion from politics. Time has allowed an implied divorce of faith and government that has facilitated tears in the moral material of the Pledge of Allegiance where our claim is that we’re a “Nation under God”.
So, we come to the point where we’ve celebrated the first year of our 1st President of African Descent who campaigned openly as a Christian… fighting for the rights of all – including the right for a woman to choose to abort a child, including fair representation of the civil rights for Americans from the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender community, including the right for all US citizens to have basic Healthcare. And the challenge of balancing a conversation on religion, politics, preferences, and policy ensued.
I often listen to Christian talk radio which is quite thorough in expounding upon the religious views of the Christian Community. However, there are also popular talk shows hosted on some of these Christian radio stations that dive into politics. Some these shows can be extremely critical our President and the controversy his administration must try to manage. I feel many critics have been down right condensing and offensive. And as a Christian Black Man (like my President), I tend to take many of the criticisms personally.
Many attacks come on his position to be Pro Choice. I personally believe that creation begins at the moment of conception. So, as a US citizen, I feel at that point a unique being exists. And that being is endowed with the right to live, be free and pursue happiness and that any prohibitions of those rights are an injustice. I would also contend that there is a toxic perspective in our country that defends the notion that we can treat abortion as a form of birth control. So, as a Christian – I would fight for life with wreck less abandon and would argue to have a thoughtful restructuring to the way we approach the interpretation and implementation of Roe v. Wade on the state level. But as a man… I would never look a woman who has been violently raped in the eye and say… “You have no rights”. I could never look a woman who is facing death from unforeseen health complications induced by a pregnancy in the eye and say, “You have no rights”.
One of the most appalling statements I heard by a personality in Texas during the 2008 campaigning period was that “you’ve [black people] waited a long time for a black President – and you’ve waited too long to choose the wrong one”. And I find myself still wondering what on Earth was he really trying to say? Have we had the “right” Caucasian President in this election or any election before? If the definition of “right” is to be directly in line with biblical and ethical principle, can we expect any “right” candidate of any ethnicity ever win a “Popular Vote”?
How does a politician navigate such treacherous waters? How does a black person pursuing political success survive the opposing forces that exist in this country? Then – how do we the people (ALL the people) of the United States for a more perfect union in authentic support of our president?
Speak your mind!
